Circumcision instrument



Jan. 8, 1963 P. M. FENTON CIRCUMCISION INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 21, 1960 FIG. 2.

mvzuroe PAUL M Hswrou BY HIS ATTORNEYS HAez/s, K1501, Passe 8: K52

United States Patent Office Patented Jan. 8, 1963 3,072,126 CHtCUMClSlON ENSTRUMENT Paul M. Fenton, 918 S. Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, Calif.

Filed Nov. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 70,772 8 (Ilaims. Cl. 128305) The present invention relates to surgical instruments and, in particular, to a circumcision instrument to be used in amputating the excessive foreskin (prepuce) present at the glans of the penis on an infant male.

The circumcision operation is presently accomplished by somewhat antiquated procedures and cumbersome instruments, whereby the operator grasps the foreskin and amputates at any desired distance and bleeding is controlled by sutures or other means. In most instances a clamping device is utilized to hold the glans in a desired position while a separate cutting instrument is employed to perform the amputation.

It is an object of this invention to provide in a unitary construction an instrument having both the properties of a hemostat and a knife. Another object of this invention is to provide a light, compact instrument capable of performing the circumcision operation with great efliciency and accuracy.

A further object of this invention is to provide a circumcision instrument having means thereon for compressing the blood vessels in the cutting area thereby arresting immediate bleeding.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a circumcision instrument having a cutting means thereon whereby the entire circumference of the prepuce surrounding the glans may be cut simultaneously.

A still further object of this invention in its preferred embodiment is to provide a circumcision instrument includng a shaft member having at one end thereof a means for receiving the glans of a penis, a knob mounted at the other end of the shaft member for longitudinal movement therealong, and a housing slidably mounted along the shaft member intermediate the knob and the penis receiving means and having a circular cutting edge thereon adjacent the penis receiving means and engageable there with when the housing is moved longitudinally along the haft member in response to the movement therealong of the knob.

Another object of this invention is to provide a circumcision instrument whereby hemostasis and amputation are substantially achieved by a single manipulation of the component parts.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a circumcision instrument having a securing means whereby the foreskin of a penis can be held in cutting position until the cutting edge can be actuated to amputate the excessive foreskin.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a circumcision instrument having a presure sensitive adhesive which serves as a securing means for holding the foreskin of a penis in cutting position until the cutting edge can be actuated to amputate the excessive foreskin.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a circumcision instrument having such a simple arrangement of components that the assembly and disassembly thereof before and after sterilization can be done with great speed and ease.

The foregoing obiects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiment described in detail hereinafter-and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention in an amputating position;

FIG. 3 is a bottom elevational view taken along the arrowed line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional view taken along the arrowed line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the numeral lil designates a circumcision instrument including a threaded shaft member 12 having at one end thereof a means 14 for receiving the glans of a penis 15. The penis receiving means 14 comprises a substantially bell-shaped member 16 formed integrally with one end of the shaft 12 and having a concavity l7 therewithin and a substantially horizontal flange 18 extending radially outwardly therefrom. A presure sensitive, heat resistant adhesive 19 is located on the exterior of the bell-shaped member 16 adjacent the flange 18. The adhesive 19 is painted on the circumcision instrument It) in liquid form and upon drying acquires its pressure sensitive prop erties. The pressure sensitive properties of the adhesive 19 will withstand a number of sterilizations at relatively high temperatures and pressures. Examples of a pressure sensitive adhesive meeting the above-mentioned requirements are Permacel Adhesive No. EZ 4050 produced by Permacel, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and 3M Adhesive No. EC-1434 produced by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co., 900 Bush Avenue, St. Paul 6, Minnesota. These products are composed of a synthetic rubber and resin base and are well known. in the art of adhesives.

A nut or knob 2% providing radially extending handles 21 and a centrally located threaded opening 22 is rotatably mounted on the other end of the threaded shaft member 12.. Consequently, upon rotation of the knob 26 it will be moved longitudinally along the shaft member 12.

. Located between the bell-shaped member 16 and the knob 20 and mounted axially on the shaft member 12 is a housing 24. The housing 24 is slidably movable along the shaft 12 and provides a cylindrical upper portion 25 having a transverse knob-engaging surface 25 adjacent the knob 2i and a circular cutting means 27 spaced longitudinally from the knob-engaging surface 26 and substantially adjacent the bell-shaped member 16. The cutting means 27 includes a transverse circular plate 28 having a centrally located circular opening 29 defined by a substantially vertical downwardly extending circular cutting edge or knife 3i). The diameter of the opening 29 is greater than the diameter of the bell-shaped member 16 but less than the diameter of the radially extending flange 18.

The housing 24, being slidably movable along the shaft 12, is responsive to the relative longitudinal movement therealong of the rotatable knob 20. Other suitable means can be employed for creating this relative movement but the illustrated arrangement is preferred in View of its simplicity and the accuracy of its action.

Connecting the cylindrical upper portion 25 and the circular cutting means 27 is a pair of rigid support arms 32 spaced to provide a substantially open area in the vicinity of the cutting edge 30. An open working area surrounding the cutting edge is important in that it permits either the fingers of the operator or small mosquito forceps to be utilized in holding the foreskin 34- of the glans of the penis 15 in proper cutting position.

In actual operation the knob Ztl is rotated upwardly along the shaft member 12 and away from the bell-shaped member 16. The housing 24 is then slidably moved along the shaft 12 toward the knob 21 This movement away from the bell-shaped member 16 leaves the penis receiving means 14 substantially unobstructed while the fingers of the operator join such means with the glans of a penis 15. The tip of the glans of the penis 15 is pressed against and somewhat into the concavity 17 of the bellshaped member 16 and the foreskin 3 of the penis is then drawn by the fingers of the operator, over the glans, the flange 18, and the body of the bell-shaped member 16, being pressed into contact with the pressure sensitive adhesive 19 located on the exterior of the bell-shaped member 16 and thereby held firmly in position until the amputation is completed.

The housing 24 is now allowed to slide down the shaft 12 with the circular cutting edge 3t passing over the bellshaped member 16 until it comes in contact with the entire circumference of the foreskin 34 at the flange 18 and at an angle substantially normal to such flange. The knob 29 is now rotated downwardly along the threaded shaft 12 to press lightly against the transverse surface 26 of the housing 24 thereby further urging the housing 24 toward the penis receiving means 14. The foreskin 34 is thus initially compressed and the blood vessels therein constricted by the clamping action between the cutting edge or knife 3t} and the flange 18. Hemostasis is thereby accomplished.

Upon further downward rotation of the knob 20, the housing 24 being responsive thereto, the circular cutting edge 30 is forced against the flange 18 thereby cutting through the foreskin 34 and completing the amputation thereof. The glans of the penis 15 then separates from the instrument l and the amputated foreskin. It is thus seen that hemostasis and amputation can both be achieved by a single manipulation of the instrument 10. The circumcision operation having been completed the instrument may now be simply disassembled for sterilization purposes. The knob 20 is rotated upwardly along the shaft member 12 until it reaches the end thereof and is then removed. The housing 24 may be slidably removed from the same end of the shaft member 12. The individual components, e.g., the shaft member 12, the housing 24, and the knob 20 may be effectively sterilized and thus made ready for rapid assembly and another operation.

It will be understood that various modifications, minor changes and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a means for amputating the excessive foreskin from the glans of a penis the combination of: a threaded shaft member having a bell-shaped member at one end thereof including a substantially horizontal flange extending radially outwardly therefrom; a housing axially mounted on said shaft member and slidably movable therealong and including a downwardly extending circular cutting edge engageable with said radially extending flange of said bell-shaped member and extending in a plane perpendicular thereto; and a knob threaded to said shaft member and engageable with said housing for urging said housing toward said bell-shaped member.

2. In a circumcision instrument the combination of: a threaded shaft member having a means for receiving the glans of a penis at one end thereof including a bell-shaped member having a foreskin-receiving flange extending radially outwardly therefrom and in substantially a horizontal plane; a threaded knob rotatably mounted on the other end of said shaft member for longitudinal movement therealong; and a sidewardly apertured housing slidably mounted on said shaft member intermediate said knob and said belLshaped member and including a circular cutting edge sized to engage said flange at an angle perpendicular thereto, said housing being movable in response to the relative longitudinal movement along said shaft member of said knob.

3. In a circumcision instrument the combination of: a threaded shaft member having a means for receiving the glans of a penis at one end thereof including a bellshaped member having a foreskin-receiving flange extending radially outwardly therefrom and in substantially a horizontal plane; a centrally threaded knob rotatably mounted on the other end of said shaft member for longitudinal movement therealong; and a housing axially mounted on said shaft member intermediate said knob and said bell-shaped member and including a knob-engaging surface at one end thereof and a downwardly directed vertically oriented circular cutting edge at the other end of said housing, said housing being responsive to the relative longitudinal movement along said shaft member of said knob upon engagement with said knobengaging surface, said cutting edge being sized to engage said flange of said penis receiving means.

4. In a circumcision instrument the combination of: a shaft member having a means for receiving the glans of a penis at one end thereof including a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom and in substantially a horizontal plane; a housing axially mounted on said shaft member and slidably movable therealong and including a transverse surface at one end thereof, a downwardly extending vertically oriented circular cutting edge at the other end thereof facing said penis receiving means, and at least one rigid support arm connecting said transverse surface and said cutting edge; and means urging said housing toward said penis receiving means and cansin said cutting edge to engage said flange thereof at an angle substantially normal thereto.

5. In a circumcision instrument the combination of: a threaded shaft member having a means for receiving the glans of a penis at one end thereof including a bell-shaped member having a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom and in substantially a horizontal plane; a side wardly apertured housing axially mounted on said shaft member and slidably movable therealong including a transverse surface at one end thereof, a downwardly extending circular cutting edge at the other end facing said flange at an angle perpendicular thereto, and at least one rigid support arm connecting said transverse surface and said cutting edge; and a centrally threaded knob rotatably mounted on Said threaded shaft member and engageable with said transverse surface of said housing for urging said housing toward said penis receiving means and causing said circular cutting edge to engage said flange thereof.

6. In a means for amputating the excessive foreskin from the glans of a penis the combination of: a shaft member having a means for receiving a penis at one end thereof including a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom in substantially a horizontal plane and a securing means adjacent said flange for engagement with the foreskin of said penis and for holding same in a cutting position; a housing axially mounted on said shaft member and slidably movable therealong and including a circular cutting edge engageable with said radially extending flange of said penis receiving means at an, angle perpendicular thereto; and means operatively interconnecting said shaft member and said housing for urging said housing toward said penis receiving means.

7. In a circumcision instrument the combination of: a threaded shaft member having a means for receiving the glans of a penis at one end thereof including a bellshaped member having a foreskin-receiving flange extending radially outwardly therefrom and a pressure sensitive adhesive located on the exterior of said bell-shaped member and adjacent said flange for engagement with the foreskin of said penis and for holding same in a cutting position; a centrally threaded knob rotatably mounted on the other end of said shaft member for longitudinal movement therealong; and a housing axially mounted on said shaft member intermediate said knob and said bell-shaped member and including a knob-engaging surface at one end thereof and a downwardly directed circular cutting edge at the other end of said housing, said housing being responsive to the relative longitudinal movement along said shaft member of said knob upon engagement with said knob-engaging surface, said cutting edge being sized to engage said flange of said penis receiving means.

8. In a circumcision instrument the combination of: a shaft member having a means for receiving the glans of a penis at one end thereof including a flange extending radially outwardly of said penis-receiving means and a pressure sensitive adhesive located on the exterior of said penis-receiving means and adjacent said flange for engagement with the foreskin of said penis and for holding same in a cutting position; a cutting means movably mounted on said shaft member for engagement with the outwardly extending flange of said penis-receiving means; and means operatively interconnecting said shaft member and said cutting means for urging said cutting means toward said flange of said penis-receiving means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,376,894 Baker May 29, 1945 2,471,864 De Palo May 31, 1949 2,646,046 Maryan July 21, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES Dr. Lindseys Circumcision Clamp, Pamphlet by J. Sklar Mfg. Co. Received in Patent Ofiice, May 21, 1940, copy in 128-346.

Lewis Instrument for Circumcision, Buflfalo Medical Journal, vol. 69, 1913-1914, pages 342-344 required, copy in 128-305. 

1. IN A MEANS FOR AMPUTATING THE EXCESSIVE FORESKIN FROM THE GLANS OF A PENIS THE COMBINATION OF: A THREADED SHAFT MEMBER HAVING A BELL-SHAPED MEMBER AT ONE END THEREOF INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FLANGE EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY THEREFROM; A HOUSING AXIALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT MEMBER AND SLIDABLY MOVABLE THEREALONG AND INCLUDING A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING CIRCULAR CUTTING EDGE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID RADIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE OF SAID BELL-SHAPED MEMBER AND EXTENDING IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR THERETO; AND A KNOB THREADED TO SAID SHAFT MEMBER AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID HOUSING FOR URGING SAID HOUSING TOWARD SAID BELL-SHAPED MEMBER. 